Electrical power pick-up for vehicles

ABSTRACT

An electrical power pick-up for vehicles, particularly high speed vehicles comprises a pick-up body shaped partially to embrace a conductor rail without direct contact with the rail. An air stream through the gap between the rail and pick-up keeps the two apart. The air stream may be effected by vacuum suction, in which case ionizing means, such as a radio-active source or a source of radio frequency power are used to assist ionization in the gap. Alternatively, the air stream is a hot gas stream, e.g. from a jet engine, the hot gases facilitating ionization of the gap. In all three arrangements the applied potential between the rail and pick-up body produces an electrical discharge through the gap.

United States Patent 1191 Johnston [54] ELECTRICAL POWER PICK-UP FOR VEHICLES [75] Inventor: James Stewart Johnston, Bognor Regis, England [73] Assignee: Rosemont Engineering Company Limited, Bognor Regis, Sussex, England 22 Filed: Apr. 8, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 132,525

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,479,47l 11/1969 Smith et al ..l9l/45 R 1451 June 5, 1973 Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Frank E. Werner Att0rney-Dugger, Peterson, Johnson & Westman [57] ABSTRACT An electrical power pick-up for vehicles, particularly high speed vehicles comprises a pick-up body shaped partially to embrace a conductor rail without direct contact with the rail. An air stream through the gap between the rail and pick-up keeps the two apart. The air stream may be effected by vacuum suction, in which case ionizing means, such as a radio-active source or a source of radio frequency power are used to assist ionization in the gap. Alternatively, the air stream is a hot gas stream, e.g. from a jet engine, the hot gases facilitating ionization of the gap. In all three arrangements the applied potential between the rail and pick-up body produces an electrical discharge through the gap.

15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures VACUUM PUMP PATENTE JUN 5 975 VACUUM -SOURCE UF 42 HUT GASES ELECTRICAL POWER PICK-UP FOR VEHICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to electrical power pick-ups for vehicles and to transport systems employing such pickups. The invention finds particular application with high speed vehicles.

2. Prior Art Present day electrical power pick-ups for vehicles make use of physical contact between a collecting brush and a conductor, which may be a rail or an overhead conductor. It is however increasingly difficult to obtain reliable contact as the speed of vehicles increases and, with the growing interest in high speed tracked vehicle systems such as hover-trains, monorails, etc., proposals have been made for using inductive coupling or capacitative coupling so as to avoid the necessity of direct contact. None of these techniques however has yet been found satisfactory from the practical point of view.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of pick-up and, to this end, use is made of an electrical discharge across a gap between the pick-up and the conductor.

According to the present invention, an electrical power pick-up for a vehicle for taking power from a conductor comprising a pick-up body adapted to move along the conductor, with a part of the body, forming I an electrode spaced away from the conductor to leave an air gap in the current path between the conductor and the electrode across which in operation an electrical discharge has to occur, and additional means, apart from any applied voltage on the conductor, for ionizing the air in said gap between the conductor and electrode.

The invention also includes within its scope an electrical power pick-up for a vehicle for taking power from a conductor comprising a pick-up body adapted to move along the conductor with a part of the body, forming an electrode, spaced away from the conductor to leave an air gap in the current path between the conductor and the electrode across which in operation an electrical discharge has to occur, and means for reducing the pressure of the air within the region between the conductor and electrode to permit ionization of the air in said air gap. The ionization might be effected by the potential gradient between the conductor and the pickup body.

Preferably however additional means, apart from any applied voltage on the conductor, are provided for ionizing the air in said gap between the conductor and the electrode.

The aforesaid additional means may comprise an ionizing source such as for example a radio-active source or a source of radio frequency power. Discharge takes place through the ionized region. The pick-up body may be a metal body and the electrode need not be any separate component; it is merely that part of the body where the discharge current is collected.

With a construction in which the pressure is reduced in the gap, the pressure in the space between the conductor and electrode is arranged to be such that the mean free path of electrons in this low pressure air is long enough to permit ionization of the air for relatively small accelerating potentials. The low electrical impedance of the ionized gas then provides the conducting path between the conductor and the electrode.

Preferably the aforementioned pick-up body is supported by an air cushion or vacuum with respect to the conductor to avoid any physical contact. A vacuum support system is preferred if the ionization is dependent on a sub-atmospheric pressure between the electrode and conductor. In one very convenient arrangement, the pick-up body is arranged underneath the conductor and extending upwardly partially around the conductor to leave a constricted air opening between the conductor and the upper part of the body and, on the vehicle, there is provided a vacuum pumping system for extracting air from the region within the body between the body and the conductor. The constriction between the body and conductor at the air entrance results in a sub-atmospheric pressure within the pick-up body. Preferably however there is provided a second restrictive gap in the air flow path between the conductor and the pick-up body immediately before the ionized gap to give a further reduction in pressure. The discharge between the conductor and the pick-up body will occur in such an arrangement in this region where the gap is narrow and the pressure is lowest and hence, with this construction, it is readily possible to make the pick-up body wholly or substantially wholly of integral metal construction, the region of the discharge being determined by the gap and pressure and also preferably by the provision of an ionizing source as described above. In such a construction it is preferable to fit insulating materials, preferably of low co-efficient of friction, in the pick-up to ensure that occasional direct contact between the pick-up and the conductor does nor intermittently short circuit the current path through the ionized gas with resulting fluctuations in the applied voltage.

Instead of using a reduced pressure, a hot gas stream may be provided to facilitate ionization of the atmosphere in the gap by the applied voltage between the conductor and the electrode and, in this case preferably the gas stream is used to provide lift keeping the pick-up body spaced from the conductor. The invention thus furthermore includes within its scope an electrical power pick-up for a vehicle for taking power from a conductor comprising a pick-up body adapted to move along the conductor with a part of the body, forming an electrode, spaced away from the conductor to leave an air gap in the current path between the conductor and the electrode across which, in operation, an electrical discharge has to occur and a source of hot gas arranged to provide a stream of hot gases into said gap to ionize the atmosphere therein, the pick-up body being shaped with respect to the conductor rail and'the stream of gases so directed that the gas stream lifts or tends to lift the pick-up body with respect to the conductor. The aforesaid source of hot gas may comprise a fossil-fuel burning jet engine, for example a jet engine having a turbine and compressor.

Very conveniently the conductor is a rigid rail. It may be a rail from which the engine vehicle is suspended thereby obviating the need for a separate vacuum or air cushioned system for supporting the pick-up body. With an overhead suspended vehicle, two conductor rails may be provided to enable two conducting paths of the electrical circuit to be completed or more than two conductor rails if a multi-phase supply is required.

The invention thus furthermore includes a transport system comprising a vehicle with a pick-up body as described above and a rigid rail forming said conductor. The vehicle may be suspended from said rail. The vehicle may have two pick-up bodies co-operating with two rails.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a pickup and part of a conductor rail;

FIG. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the pick-up of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section through the pick-up of FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate further embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 there is shown a pick-up body 1 adapted to co-operate with a conductor rail 2 of cruciform section. The rail is illustrated diagrammatically as being supported from above by support links such as the supportlink 3. A vacuum pump indicated at 19 on the vehicle is connected by a pipe 4 to a chamber in the pick-up body 1 formed by an upward extension of the pipe 4. Air enters between the upward flange 12 of the rail 2 and two inwardly directed horizontal flanges 13 on the pick-up body and passes through the space 7 between the horizontal flanges 14 of the rail and the aforementioned horizontal flanges 13 on the pick-up body and thence around through the space 6 underneath the horizontal flanges 14 and so down through the narrow gaps 8 on each side of the lower vertical flange 15 of the rail which gap opens up into the chamber 5. If the vacuum pump 19 is not operating, the flanges 13 will rest on the flanges 14. Operation of the vacuum pump however, drawing in the air, will lift the pick-up body 1 to give sufficient gaps 7 to permit of the air-flow. The constriction in the air path however causes a pressure differential. The reduced pressure in the space 6 below the underside of the horizontal flanges 14 of the rail 2 will tend to urge the pickup body 1 vertically upward tending also to open the space 7 permitting a larger flow of air and thus neutralising the reduction of pressure in the space 6. The re-- sult is that the pick-up body assumes the position of equilibrium in which it floats free on both the upper and lower surfaces of the horizontal flanges 14 of the rail 2 and is able to move along the rail with virtually no friction. Because of the narrow gap 8 at the side of the lower flange 15 of the rail, the air pressure in the chamber 5 will be appreciably below atmospheric. This low pressure is arranged to be such that the mean free path of electrons in the air at this low pressure is long enough to permit ionization of the air for a relatively small accelerating potential. An ionizing source 9, which may be either a radioactive source or source of radio frequency power, is provided to ensure that the ionization takes place preferentially in the region at the top of the chamber 5 and hence the ionized air in this region provides the conductive path between the rail 2 and the pick-up body 1. Insulating material 8 with a low co-efficient of friction is provided adjacent the lower vertical flange 15 to ensure that occasional direct contact between the body 1 and this lower flange 15 does not intermittently short circuit the current path through the ionized air with resultant fluctuations in the applied voltage.

Any water, snow, dust, etc. drawn in through the pipe 4 may be separated on the vehicle, e.g. using inertial separation, to prevent such solid or liquid particles passing into the vacuum pumping system.

Provision may be made, as is known in monorail hover-train systems, to ensure adequate lateral stability so that the pick-up body does not tend to run always in contact with one side of the rail. This can be achieved however by a suitable design of the rail and carrier body using known techniques.

With the arrangement of FIGS. 1 to 3, the pressure reduction in the space 6 can readily be of the order of a few lb. per sq. in. by virtue of the pneumatic impedance experienced by the air flowing through the space 7 around the edges of the conductor rail. The gap 8 is arranged to present a substantially greater pneumatic impedance as to ensure that there is a low pressure in the ionization region. It is not essential however to have two constrictions producing pneumatic impedance and FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate alternative constructions of conductor rail and pick-up body with essentially a single constriction in the air flow path. 7

In FIG. 4 the conductor rail 20 is of circular section and a pick-up body 21 substantially embraces the rail leaving an opening 22 at the top through which air can pass to enter the narrow gap between theedge of the pick-up and the conductor rail. The air then flows down around the conductor rail into a vacuum pipe 24 connected to the vacuum pump 19. In this construction, the ionization source may be located at the top of the vacuum pipe.

FIG. 5 illustrates a construction using a rectangular conductor rail 25 and a pick-up body 26 shaped substantially to embrace the conductor rail apart from an opening 27 at the top permitting the'air to enter the flow over the top surface of the conductor rail 25 um derneath inwardly directed flanges 28 on the pick-up body 26 and thence down around the sides of the conductor rail 25 and underneath it to a vacuum pipe 29 leading to the vacuum pump 19.

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another construction. In this a conductor rail 30 is shaped to have a flat top 31. The sides 32 of the conductor rail however converge inwardly and downwardly and, in this particular construction, are slightly concave. A pick-up body 33 has inwardly directed flanges 34 which form the required gap between the top surface 31 of the conductor rail and the pick-up body 33 to give a reduction of pressure. Inner side surfaces 35 of the pick-up body curve inwardly to be closely adjacent the bottom of the conductor rail 30 thereby giving a further constriction leading to a vacuum pipe 36 and the ionization source is placed immediately below this constriction.

FIG. 7 illustrates an arrangement in which hot gases are used to increase the temperature in the discharge gap between the conductor and electrode to facilitate ionization by the applied voltage. The hot gases are obtained from a fossil-fuel burning jet engine, which may be of conventional construction having an air compressor and a turbine driven by the gas stream and driving the compressor. This jet engine provides a stream of hot gases which is directed downwardly to provide lift for the pick-up body. In FIG. 7, there is shown a pickup body 40 straddling. a conductor rail 41 and a source of hot gases 42 feeds a stream of combustion gases via a duct through the body to give lift with respect to the rail and also, by reason of the high temperature to facilitate ionization of the gas between the pick-up body and rail.

I claim:

1. An electrical power pick-up for a vehicle for taking power from a conductor comprising a pick-up body adapted to move along the conductor, with a part of the body, forming an electrode, spaced away from the conductor to leave an air gap in the current path between the conductor and the electrode across which, in operation, an electrical discharge has to occur, and means for reducing the pressure of the air within the region between the conductor and electrode to permit ionization of the air in said gap.

2. An electrical power pick-up for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 and having additional means, apart from any applied voltage on the conductor, for ionizing the air in said gap between the conductor and the electrode.

3. An electrical power pick-up for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2 wherein said additional means comprises a radio-active ionizing source for ionizing the air within said region.

4. An electrical power pick-up for a vehicle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said additional means comprises a source of radio frequency power for ionizing the air within said region.

5. An electrical power pick-up for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein an air cushion support system is provided for supporting said pick-up body.

6. An electrical power pick-up for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein a vacuum support system is provided for supporting said pick-up body.

7. An electrical power pick-up system for a vehicle for taking power from a conductor comprising a pickup body adapted to move along the conductor, the pick-up body being underneath the conductor and shaped to extend upwardly partially around the conductor to leave a constricted air opening between the conductor and the upper part of said body, a vacuum pumping system for extracting air from the region within the body between the body and the conductor, a part of the body spaced away from the conductor forming an electrode to leave an air gap in the current path between the conductor and the electrode across which in operation an electrical discharge has to occur, and additional means, apart from any applied voltage on the conductor, for ionizing the air in said gap between the conductor and electrode.

8. An electrical power pick-up for a vehicle as claimed in claim 7 wherein said pick-up body and said conductor are shaped to provide a second restrictive gap in the air flow path between the conductor and the pick-up body immediately before the ionized gap to give a further reduction in pressure.

9. An electrical power pick-up for a vehicle as claimed in claim 7 wherein insulating materials are provided in the pick-up body to ensure that direct contact between the pick-up body and the conductor does not intermittently short circuit the current path through the ionized gas. I

10. A transport system comprising a vehicle with a pick-up body as claimed in claim 1 and a rigid rail forming said conductor.

11. A transport system as claimed in claim 10 wherein-the vehicle is suspended from said rail. I

12. A transport system as claimed in claim 10 and having more than one rail each with an associated pickup body on said vehicle.

13. In a transport system having at least one rigid rail forming an electrical conductor and a vehicle with a pick-up for taking electrical power from said rail, a pick-up body on the vehicle shaped partially to embrace said rail leaving an air gap between the rail and pick-up, body means causing a flow of air through said gap, the rail and pick-up body being shaped that the air flow through the gap keeps the pick-up body spaced from the rail and additional means, apart from any applied voltage on the rail, for ionizing the air in said gap.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further characterized in that the above mentioned means comprise a source of hot gas arranged to provide a stream of hot gases into said gap to ionize the atmosphere therein, and the pick-up body is shaped and the stream of gases so directed that the gas stream lifts the pick-up body with respect to the rail.

15. An electrical power pick-up as claimed in claim 14 wherein said source of hot gas comprises a fossilfuel burning jet engine. 

1. An electrical power pick-up for a vehicle for taking power from a conductor comprising a pick-up body adapted to move along the conductor, with a part of the body, forming an electrode, spaced away from the conductor to leave an air gap in the current path between the conductor and the electrode across which, in operation, an electrical discharge has to occur, and means for reducing the pressure of the air within the region between the conductor and electrode to permit ionization of the air in said gap.
 2. An electrical power pick-up for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 and having additional means, apart from any applied voltage on the conductor, for ionizing the air in said gap between the conductor and the electrode.
 2. An llectrica powr pick-4p rrr 1 vehicl as claimed in 1am 1 and havin aiiional mea1s, aaart from an applied vltageon the onuctor, for ioni11ngth air in said gap between the conductor and the electrod.
 3. ASN EL-TRICA POWER PICK-upffor a veiiclv s claimed in claim 2 wherein said additioal meancomprisearadioactive ionizing surce fo ionizing t air within said rggin ELECTRIC- POWER PICK-UP FOR A VVEHICLE AS CLAIMED IN AAAIM - WHEREINSSAID AD-TONAL MEANS COMPRISES ASOURC OF RDIO RREQUENY POWR FR OIZING THE AIR WITHIN SAIDRREGION. % ANN LL--TRIALPPOWER PICK-up for a vehcle aas claimed 1clai 1 wheeein nn aicush1 support ssstm is provided for supportingsaid pick-u body.
 3. An electrical power pick-up for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2 wherein said additional means comprises a radio-active ionizing source for ionizing the air within said region.
 4. An electrical power pick-up for a vehicle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said additional means comprises a source of radio frequency power for ionizing the air within said region.
 5. An electrical power pick-up for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein an air cushiOn support system is provided for supporting said pick-up body.
 6. An electrical power pick-up for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein a vacuum support system is provided for supporting said pick-up body.
 6. An electrical power pck-up for a vehicle a claieed in claim 1 wherein a vacuum suort system s provided for supporting said pick-up body.
 7. An electrical power pick-P SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE FO TAKING POWER FROM ONDUOR COMRISING A PICK-up body dapted to move alnn the oduct,,te pick-UP BODYIING NRRRNEATH THE CONDUCTOR AND SHAED TO EXTND UPWARDLY PARTILLY AROUND HE ONDUCTOR TO LAVE A CONSTRICTE AIR OPENING BETWEEN THE CONDUCTOR ANDTHE UPPER PART OFSIID BODY, A ACUUM P$PING SYSTEM FOR ETRACTING AIR FROM THE REGIO-WITHIN THE BODY BETWEE THE BODY AND THE CONDUCTR, A PART THE BODY SPA-ED AWAY FROM TH CONCTOR FRRMING AN ELECTRODE TO LEAVE AAIR GAP IN TH- CURRENT PATH BETWENN TH CONDUCTORAAND TE ELECTRODE ACROSS WHICH IN OPERATION AN ELECTRICAL DISCHARG HAS TO OCCUR, AND ADDITIONALMMEANS APRRT FROM ANY APPLID VOLTAGE ONTHE ONDUCTRR, FOR IOZING T AIR INSSAID GAP BWEENTHE ONDU-OR AND ELECTDDE. * ANN EECRICAL POWR PICK-up fr a vehicle lamed ncclaim 7 where sai ick1up boyy and said conductor are shaped to provide a second restrictivegap in the ai flow pathbetween the conductor and the ick-up body immvdttely before the ionized gaptto give a further reducton in pressure.
 7. An electrical power pick-up system for a vehicle for taking power from a conductor comprising a pick-up body adapted to move along the conductor, the pick-up body being underneath the conductor and shaped to extend upwardly partially around the conductor to leave a constricted air opening between the conductor and the upper part of said body, a vacuum pumping system for extracting air from the region within the body between the body and the conductor, a part of the body spaced away from the conductor forming an electrode to leave an air gap in the current path between the conductor and the electrode across which in operation an electrical discharge has to occur, and additional means, apart from any applied voltage on the conductor, for ionizing the air in said gap between the conductor and electrode.
 8. An electrical power pick-up for a vehicle as claimed in claim 7 wherein said pick-up body and said conductor are shaped to provide a second restrictive gap in the air flow path between the conductor and the pick-up body immediately before the ionized gap to give a further reduction in pressure.
 9. An electrical power pick-up for a vehicle as claimed in claim 7 wherein insulating materials are provided in the pick-up body to ensure that direct contact between the pick-up body and the conductor does not intermittently short circuit the current path through the ionized gas.
 9. An electrcs power pick-upffo a vehiascclaieed i claim 7 whervin insulating materials are provided the pick-up body to ensure ha direct ottact between1 pick-up body and the conductor does n intemittenty short circuit the curren athtthrough the ozzzed gas.
 10. A transpor system comrising vehcle wth a pick-SUP BODYAS CLAIMED ILLLLAIM - AND A RIGID RAIL FORMING SAID CONDUCTOR. --. A transport system as claimed in cla 10 h1rei1 the vehicle is susendedfrom aaid rail 1 A TRANSPORTSSYSTEMAS LLAIMED IN CLAM -) AND HAVIGG MORE THAN ONE RAIL EACHWITH AN ASSOCIA-ED PICK-p body on said vehicle A TRANSPOT SYSTEM HAVING T LEASTOONE RIGD RAIL FORMING AN ELECTRAAL CONDUCTOR ANDAVVEHICLE WITH A PICK-up for taking electrical power from aid rail, a pick-u1 body on the vehicle shaped partially0to embrace said rail eav1ng an air gapbetween the rail andick-up, body meansausing a flow of air through said ga,, the rall and pick1up body being shaped tttt theaair flow through the gap keeps the pick-up body spaced fromhe rail and addtional means, apart from any applied voltage on the air, for ionizing the airin said gap.
 10. A transport system comprising a vehicle with a pick-up body as claimed in claim 1 and a rigid rail forming said conductor.
 11. A transport system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the vehicle is suspended from said rail.
 12. A transport system as claimed in claim 10 and having more than one rail each with an associated pick-up body on said vehicle.
 13. In a transport system having at least one rigid rail forming an electrical conductor and a vehicle with a pick-up for taking electrical power from said rail, a pick-up body on the vehicle shaped partially to embrace said rail leaving an air gap between the rail and pick-up, body means causing a flow of air through said gap, the rail and pick-up body being shaped that the air flow through the gap keeps the pick-up body spaced from the rail and additional means, apart from any applied voltage on the rail, for ionizing the air in said gap.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 further characterized in that the above mentioned means comprise a source of hot gas arranged to provide a stream of hot gases into said gap to ionize the atmosphere therein, and the pick-up body is shaped and the stream of gases so directed that the gas stream lifts the pick-up body with respect to the rail.
 14. The pparatusoof c1aim 1 further characterized in that theabove mettioned eans 1ompise a source of hot 11s rraged to provide a stram ofhot gases ino said gap to ionize the atmosphere hrein, and the pick-up ody is shaped and the stream of gasessso direted thattthe gas stream lifts the pik-up body with respect tthe rail.
 15. AN LECTRICAL POEER PICK-u as claimed in claim 14 ren iiidsourc of hot ga comprises a fossll-feel brning jet engine.
 15. An electrical power pick-up as claimed in claim 14 wherein said source of hot gas comprises a fossil-fuel burning jet engine. the coutor t avoid a1y physical contact. Avvauum support system is peferred if 1e ionitttion iddependent oon a sub11atmospheri rssure beween the electrode an conducor. In one very conveiient arrangement tee pck1up ody is arranged undrnat he condor and eendin1 uparyarilly around eee condtor to e1v1a cotricted air openingbtween the conuct andttee uper art of the oody and, o the vehicle, ther1 is provied a 1acuum pumping ssste extracting air from the rego with1n te bodyeeewee the dy and te conductor The cnstriction between the body d onductor 1tttheair entran results in assub1aaoosperic pressure within th pick-UP BODY. Preferably however teere is 1vided a sec1 estritive a7 n th airfflow path between the conductor 11 the pi1-up boy iimmediatey before e onized g to give a furtr reduction n pressre.te dhrge etween th onductor and t pcckUUP BDDY WILL O-CUR IN SUCH A-ARRANGEMET INTHIS REIION WHERE THE GAP IS NARR AND THE PRESSUEE I LOWETT AND HENCE,WTTTHIS CONSTRUCTIN, IS READILY POSBLE T MAKETHE PCK-up body woolly or subsatly wholl O integral metalcconstruction, the r1gionf 1 the discarge being determined bthe ap and resuure aand alsoppreferably by the provision of an ionizing source as describedaave. In such a con1ruction it is peeferb to iit insulating atr11s, prefe1ablyoof low co-efficiett of fiittion, n the pick-uptto ensure that occaonal diret coact beween the pic1u1nnd tee conduor des nor intrmitntly shrrtccircuit the 1 crren ath through the innized gas withrresulting fluctatios intthe appeeed volge. pp I@NSTADOOF USING A REDUCD-R-SSRR, A HOT GASSTREAM MAY EE PROVIDED TO FACILITAEE IONIZATION OF TH ATMOSHERE - TEE GAPBYTTHE APPLIED VOLTAGE EETWEE -- THE CONDUCTOR NND THETTRODE AND, IN THIS CASE EFERABL HEGGAS TEAM IS USED TO PROVIDE L-T EEEPITT THE PICUP BODYSPAEED FROM THE CONDUCTOR. The invention t futhermore iud12 within is scope an electric1 power 11up r vehicle for aaking 1owe rom a conductrrcompising a p-U BDY ADAPTED TO MVE ALON THE CONDUCTOR WH PART OF HE BODY FORMING A ELE-RODE, SPACE AWAY FRO HE CONDUCTOR TO LE-VE AN AIR GA IN HE -RRNNT ATH BETWEEN TEONDUCO AND HE EELETTRODE ACROSSWWHICH IN OPRATION, N ELECTRICAL IIHARGE HA TO OCCURNDAASS@UR OF HOT GAS ARRNGED TO&OV-EE A STRAM OFHHOT GAEES INTO SAID GAP TO IONIZE THEAATMOSPHER- THEREIN,TTHE PICK-u bodybeing haped w1th rspect o the conductor ral and the ttream of gase oo direted thatthe ga streallifs or tends to lift the pik-UP BODY WITH RESEEC T THECCONDUCTRR. The aoresiid source of h1gg1 ma1oriee a ssil-FFUL BURNINGJJE ENGINE, FOR EXAMPLE A JETEENGINE VINGAA TURBINE AND OMPRSSOR VRY CONVEEEENYTH CONDUCTOR I A RIGID RAIL- It maybeaa rail 1omwwhich the en1ine vehiee is suseendedtherby bbviatnghe eeed fr a separate vacuum r airshioned syttemfor supporting the pick-up body With a overheadsuspended vehie two ondcctorrils mayerovided to eaable to conductingats of teelectrica11rcuit to be compleeed or more tn two condutor rails if a mult1phase supplyis required. p THEINVEIN THUSFFURTERMOR INCLDDES A TRANSPORT SYSTEM COMPR-NNG A V-CCLEWWIH A PICK-up body as desciibed above and a rigid riil formgggssad cnduttor. The vehilmay be uspended fom2aid iiil. -H VEIICLV MAY HAV WO PICKup bdiescooperating wtth too rails. dr brief dscrppton of th draings FI.. I A DIARAMMATIC PERPPECTIVE VIEW OF A ---PPP AND PRRT OF A ONDUCTOR ALL: PPP FIG. 2 iavvertiaal longitudinal sectin throuh the p1ck1up of FIG. -: - FIG. -- IS A RANVVERSE SECTION THROUGHTHE PICK-up of FIG 1 and FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and illutat further embod1ments ofteiinvnton. DECCRITION O EE PREFER-D EMBDDIMETTS Referring to FIGS. @- TO - THERE IS SHOWN A PICKup bdy 1 adapted to co-operate wih a coductor aailoof cruciformssectin. The rail is illustaated dagrammiiicaly as bng supported frmm abov1 b sppportiiinksssuch as te supprt link
 3. AVAUUM UMP INDITTED AT -ON TH VEHILE IS CONNECTD BY A IIPE $ TO A CHAMBER % IN THE PITK-up body 1 formed by an upward extension o2 the p7e
 4. Air enters between the upward lang12 the rail 2 and two inwadly directe horizontafflangs 1 on the pk-@U&BBODY AD PASSESTTHROUG THE SACE BWEEN THE HOIIZONTA FLNNGS $O TE RIIL AD THE AF-EMENTONED HORIZONTAL LLANGES -- ON THE PIC-UPBBBODAAAND THENCE A&UND THROUGH THE SPACE " UNEERNAATH TEE HORIZON-AL FLANGES -$ AND SO DWWN THROUG) E NARRO GAPS * ON EACH SIDE O THE OEER V-TICAL FLANGE-% O TH RL WHIC GAP OPENS UP INT THE CHAM-R%%. ITTTHE VACUU PMMP -( SNOT OEERATING, THE FLANGES -- WIL-REST ON -HE FLANGES -$. $Operaion o the va1uum pump however, drawing in the ai1, will lift the pick-upbbody 1 to give sufficeent gaps 7 to permit oftthe air-flw. The cnnstricon in the arr aah howeve caes a pressure ifferenti... The 1educd pressre i the pace 6 below te underside oftthehhorizontal flangs 14 of he rail 2 illtend ure the ick1up body 1 vertically uward tendng aso to opnn the space 7 permittin1aa lar1e flow of air and thus neutralisin the redcction of pe2sure in eee space
 6. TE -S--S TH- HE PICK- od assmes the posit1on o equilbrium 1n whic foats2ree on both the uppe and lowersurfac of the orizontal flanges 14 o2 he ral 2 and is able to move along the ril wth virtuallyno fricon. ecu of the narrw gap 8 atthe side otthe 1er lang115 of the rail, the air pressure in the chamber 5 will be appeciay blo amospheric. This low puuur1iis arranged to sh hat he maan free pthof electrons intte air attthi lowrrressure is longnou to permitoniztion of the air for 1 relativelysmall ac1eleratingotential. A ionizigg sorrce 9, which aay be eitheraa radi1tive source rr source f radi frequency poer,, i povide t ensuee that tee inition tees pace rreferentially in the region tt the to of he chambr55 and henceth innized air in this region p1ovdesthe conductive pa1h between the rail 2 d the pick-p bod... NSUAATING MATERA * W-TH A LOW CO-efficient of iiicti /s rovided ajcct the owr v1rticlllllange115tt enuu taat o1asnal irect contcct between the body 1 ad this lower aange555 does not intermitt1 short circut the current path thoug the ionized air witresltant flututtons in the applied voltage ANYTER SOW DUST, ETC. DRAWN IN THOUG TH PIPE $ MAY BEPARATED ON THE---HICLE, E.GSING INE-TIAL EPARATON, O PREVEN- SUC OLID LIQUID ARTLL-ASING INTO THE VACUUMPUMPINGSYSTEM. Provision maybe made,aas isknown inmmonrail hover-train stems, toensre adequate lateral stabilit so that the pick1up bod does not tend to un always i ontatwih one sid of he ri Ths an be achieved how1ver by ssuitabl design of ee rail and arrier y usng known techiiques. Wit the arrangement of FIGS- - TO -, THE RESSURE REDUCON IN THE SPACE "CAN READILY BE O TH OREE OF A FEWB. PRQ. IN. BY VIRTUE OF THE NEMMTTIC IMPEDANTEXPREE-ED B T AIR FLOWING THROUGH HE SPACE & AROUND H EDGS OF THE CONDUCTOR RAIL. The gap 8 s arrange toresen a subsantaly greater pneumati imdan as t ensurethat there is a low pressre i the ionization regin1 iit is not essettal however taaav o 1nrrrictinns roducing 1eum1tic imdance and FIGS. $$ NN % LLURRAE A--ERNTTVE ONSTRUCTIONS OF CONDUCTOR RAIL AN PICK-up bdy wtthesseiiill a singl constrcton inth1ai flow pah. In FGG. 4 the onductor rail 20 isoof circular eiii2n and a picuup body 21 substantially embraces the rai leaiing an oning 22 at the top through whih air can as tonter he narrow ga between the edge of the pik1u and thecconductor rail. The ai then flows wwn aound the condcctorrail into vacuum p1ee 24 connectd to thvuum pump
 19. Intts cons1ruiiion th ionization sorrce mabe lcated at th top oftthe vacuum pipe. FIG. 1luttrates1 onstrution usigg a rectangul1r conductor rail 25aad a pick1u body 2 shaped su2tantiallyo emraee the conduc1r rail apart fm an openn227 at the top permitting the air to ntr th low over the top surface oftthe onductrr rail 25 underneath inwardly directeflanges 28 o the pick11u body and thence oown arondthe sids oftthe conductor rail 25 and underneah it toaa vacuum pe 29 